tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post1907299340504348707..comments2024-03-17T10:07:53.205-07:00Comments on The Well-Rounded Mama: Italian Waterbirth StudyWell-Rounded Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-71251584268812924602011-03-18T10:38:30.645-07:002011-03-18T10:38:30.645-07:00I've always wondered if water births are as ne...I've always wondered if water births are as new a concept as we think. In every old movie where childbirth is features, women run in and out of the birthing room with gallons and gallons of hot water. It's burned into my psyche - if there's a baby coming, you need towels and LOTS of hot water. Why? The only thing that makes sense now to my adult mind is that perhaps there was a nice tub in there!Erinhttp://9davids.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-53360005312211119962010-12-17T14:37:37.773-08:002010-12-17T14:37:37.773-08:00Hazelnut, good question.
It's not my person...Hazelnut, good question. <br /><br />It's not my personal photo so I wasn't there to know for sure, but yes, it looks to me like that's the umbilical cord. <br /><br />It's not uncommon for the cord to be wrapped in various ways around the baby, and that's not usually a problem. Usually unwraps itself as baby comes out, with a little help from the person catching the baby. (Actually, water really facilitates that process, I'm told.)<br /><br />So although I can't be sure, my best guess is that yes, that's the umbilical cord, and yup, the baby looks like he's wearing it like a stole!<br /><br />All the best-dressed newborns.....Well-Rounded Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-48078983455522964472010-12-17T13:00:35.863-08:002010-12-17T13:00:35.863-08:00Must ask about the photo: babe appears to have a y...Must ask about the photo: babe appears to have a yellowish linear structure passing up the left side, under the arm, and around the back of the neck, and a corresponding bluish structure on the right side. Is the kiddo actually wearing his/her cord like a stole, or is it some kind of photo artifact?Hazelnuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04952768656340372842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-53951034703557897802010-12-17T09:11:32.777-08:002010-12-17T09:11:32.777-08:00I'm glad you pointed out that it does not reli...I'm glad you pointed out that it does not relieve all the pain/discomfort of labor. I had a waterbirth at home(a VBA2C!) earlier this year and loved it. I could not wait to get in the tub but was surprised that it was not as great as I thought it would be after reading so many birth stories of the waterdurial effect. For me it was hard to feel grounded to focus on getting through the contractions but the hot water felt wonderful between contractions. I also loved being in the water for the pushing and birth. It was much easier to feel comfortable in the position I ended up in. My baby did not try to breathe under the water either.Selenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283612390076875594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-7942407224236810642010-12-16T19:06:08.934-08:002010-12-16T19:06:08.934-08:00I had my first baby in the big tub at a birth cent...I had my first baby in the big tub at a birth center. I didn't intend to, I just didn't want to get it when it was time to push. It was great! I wish I'd decided to do that with the 2nd one too.nopinkherehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564755430685395898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-84784089713767402442010-12-15T06:33:08.364-08:002010-12-15T06:33:08.364-08:00This just reinforces my experience in my first lab...This just reinforces my experience in my first labor- I went into labor late at night and labored rather comfortably in the shower and then the tub before realizing that I was even in active labor! By the time I figured it out I was pushing and we almost didn't make it to the hospital. And that wasn't even in a birth tub, but just my little tub at home. Total labor was 5 hours, and would have been closer to 4 if my husband wasn't distracting me trying to get me out of the tub to the hospital! It was really great, and as I doula I will be recommending laboring in water to my clients. I'm hoping that the new hospital that is being built will allow water births- they have big jacuzzi tubs!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023597333983625037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-33503570289456504532010-12-15T00:19:12.046-08:002010-12-15T00:19:12.046-08:00I want to reassure you that if waterbirth is not a...I want to reassure you that if waterbirth is not appealing to you, there's absolutely no need for you to try it. I'm simply passing on more information about it for those interested in it, not pushing everyone to try it. But do learn more about it so that you understand why it's not as dangerous as some might think.<br /><br />There are a number of inhibitory factors that keep baby from sucking in water and drowning. You can read more about that here: <br /><br />http://data.memberclicks.com/site/wi/Waterbirth_Basics.pdf<br /><br />Remember, the baby is ALREADY in fluid in the womb. It's coming from an atmosphere of "water" (amniotic fluid) directly into another atmosphere of water (birth tub). If baby didn't drown in utero, it won't as it comes out, as long as baby is not left under too long and as long as it's not in severe distress (which is an indication for getting out of the birthtub anyhow). <br /><br />You don't want to leave baby under the water for a long time because after she's born her system will transform to air breathing, and left long enough there could be danger. So once born, you simply lift baby to the surface gently. Once baby has been in the air, she does not go back under because that starts triggering the changeover. But with a few simple precautions, waterbirth is a very reasonable thing.<br /><br />One Swiss study, www.pubmed.gov/10971083, found no increased risk to babies in a study of over 2000 waterbirths. "No case of water aspiration or any other perinatal complication of the mother or child which might be water-related was reported."<br /><br />The Cochrane Collaboration (www.pubmed.gov/19370552) did a meta-analysis of waterbirth studies in 2009 and found:<br /><br />"There is no evidence of increased adverse effects to the fetus/neonate or woman from labouring in water or waterbirth."<br /><br />Yes, there are some precautions you take but remember that a lot of interventions women commonly use in labor (pitocin, other induction drugs, amniotomy, epidural, etc.) all have risks associated with them, and probably more than waterbirth.<br /><br />Again, every woman should choose the kind of things she is personally comfortable with for her birth. If you don't want to use water in labor, that's totally fine and I applaud you knowing your own mind. <br /><br />But from a risk point of view, waterbirth really is a very reasonable choice for those who want it.Well-Rounded Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-72559342523900383812010-12-14T14:20:12.748-08:002010-12-14T14:20:12.748-08:00Was there any mention of the dive reflex?
I've...Was there any mention of the dive reflex?<br />I've heard it only works in colder waters, and some infants have been lost to a form of drowning. <br />Honestly, I could never give birth underwater. I'd be too frightened, as we are land mammals, and giving birth underwater is unprecedented in my mind for a newborn creature of that status. -EricaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com